Three wind farms to be built off the Caithness coast are to be named after Scottish engineers, following an agreement to lease the seabed needed.
The projects will commemorate Glasgow-born lighthouse builder Robert Stevenson and Thomas Telford, from Westerkirk, near Langholm.
Dumbarton-born Sir Edward MacColl, a pioneer of hydro power in Scotland, will also be honoured.
A total of 200 turbines could be constructed in three clusters.
The developers have claimed that they could generate enough electricity for 750,000 homes - more than a conventional coal-burning power station.
The Crown Estate, which control the rights to the seabed, have signed a deal with the consortium Moray Offshore Renewables.
The joint venture is 75% owned by Portugal-based EDP Renewables with the other 25% owned by SeaEnergy Renewables, a firm with expertise from the offshore oil industry that is expected to be sold in the next few weeks by its Aberdeen parent company.
The next steps will be a long-term lease of the seabed sites and then commissioning and construction of the turbines and their platforms.
